Slavery and the African American story

Gr 5--7--The second in the "Race to the Truth" series centers slavery as "our shared history," a necessary reminder that "all Americans continue to benefit from slavery whether we want to believe it or not." Jones nimbly channels scholar/activist Dockery's conversational text, augmenting the history missing from textbooks and classrooms. Highlights include "sixteenth-century black conquistadors," the "Door of No Return," using Christianity to validate slavery. Uncommon facts are many, from the etymological origin of "slave" from Slav (when Arabs enslaved Bosnians before Africa became a trafficking source), to second U.S. President John Adams as the only Founding Father who opposed slavery, to Adams's son, sixth U.S. President John Quincy Adams, who represented the 53 (surviving) African men of the Amistad in court. Most sobering are the unacknowledged, ongoing, slavery-originated profits, from our cotton/textiles to banking/insurance, and even the loftiest Harvard educations. VERDICT Dockery and Jones are a powerfully illuminating pair.

The Black presence in the Americas began hundreds of years before the establishment of the Colonies and the practice of chattel slavery. In her exploration of how slavery has impacted the United States throughout its history, Williams Dockery begins her narrative before colonization. For example, in the early 16th century, African conquistador Juan Garrido traveled with Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León in his search for gold in present-day Puerto Rico and Florida. The African slave trade became a point of fierce competition among Western European countries. Their economic ambitions initially led colonists to try to enslave Indigenous people, then use European indentured servants, and later turn to enslaved Africans. Once race-based slavery was established, it became codified in law and contributed to the economic foundation of the country. Every effort was made to ensure lifelong bondage. Resistance to slavery by enslaved people--both small gestures and larger-scale organized efforts--occurred from the beginning. Formerly enslaved persons used their experiences of brutality to help grow the abolitionist movement. Stories and anecdotes are woven throughout the lively text as the author encourages readers to ponder these issues and events. Because of the wide time range covered, most topics are briefly introduced and will require further reading. Williams Dockery concludes with an intriguing look at archaeological and genetic work being done to learn more about those who lived their lives in bondage. A valuable introduction for budding historians exploring complex aspects of American history. (resources, notes) (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.